more bulletins:

MarketPulse

08:27PM

China telecom-gear firms pose U.S. threat: reportby Sarah Turner

SYDNEY (MarketWatch) -- Chinese telecom-gear firms pose a security threat to the U.S., according to a draft of a U.S. House of Representatives Intelligence Committee leaders report to be released Monday, Reuters reported. In an 11-month probe of Huawei Technology Co.
(se:002502)
and ZTE Corp.
(hk:763)
(ztcoy)
both firms failed to provide enough information to allay the committee's security concerns, according to the report. The firms "cannot be trusted to be free of foreign state influence," the draft committee report said, according to Reuters.

07:20PM

Australian stocks start new week on downbeat noteby Sarah Turner

SYDNEY (MarketWatch) -- Australian stocks declined in early trading on Monday, with the S&P/ASX 200 index
(au:xjo)
down 0.1% at 4,489.80. Mineral extractors were the worst performers by sector, with gold miner Newcrest Mining Ltd. down 1.9% and smaller rival Perseus Mining Ltd.
(au:pru)
down 1.7%. Gold futures took a tumble in New York on Friday after stronger U.S. jobs data led to a dimming of expectations for more central-bank easing. In addition, mainland Chinese stock markets are set to reopen Monday following a week-long holiday and Stan Shamu, strategist at IG Markets, said that caution could prevail in Australia ahead of the Shanghai open.

05:38PM

More than 90 people get meningitis from injectionby Deborah Levine

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) - More than 90 people have contracted fungal meningitis linked to a steroid commonly used in back injections, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The agency said seven people have died from the disease, CBS News reported Sunday. The Massachusetts pharmacy that distributes the steroid voluntarily recalled its products, the report added. The injections are a frequent treatment for back pain. Patients who have had the procedure done since July should watch out for symptoms, which could take another month to show up, though the condition isn't contagious, media reports said.

05:14PM

Turkey, Syria trade fire for fifth dayby Deborah Levine

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) - Turkey and Syria exchanged artillery and mortar fire across their border for a fifth day on Sunday, raising fears that Syria's civil war could escalate into a regional conflict. The situation could become a flash point as Turkey, a member of NATO, now supports the rebellion in Syria instead of the long-standing regime of President Bashar al-Assad, according to the Associated Press. Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu warned Saturday that the government would respond forcefully to each Syrian shot landing on Turkish soil.

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Retail sales in China slowed during the extra-long Golden Week holiday compared with last year, Reuters reported Sunday. Overall sales rose 15% during the eight-day holiday, which is actually slower than last year's 17.5% increase, Reuters said, citing local media. Anything showing consumer spending slowing in the world's second-largest economy is a red flag for investors hoping that China doesn't slow down too much and become a drag on global growth.

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- "Taken 2," the thriller starring Liam Neeson, led at the box office over the weekend, raking in $105 million worldwide, according to Rentrak Corp.
(rent)
. About half of that was in the United States, where the 20th Century Fox
(nws)
production also topped other movies. Sony Corp.'s [S: sne] animated comedy "Hotel Transylvania" brought in $26.3 million in domestic ticket sales, followed by Universal's musical comedy "Pitch Perfect," which took in $14.7 million.

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- A recall of peanut butter and related food products due to possible salmonella contamination has been expanded to include products sold at Target Corp.
(tgt)
, Costco Wholesale Corp.
(cost)
and Whole Foods Market Inc.
(wfm)
. The Center for Disease Control reported Friday that 35 people have been infected by a strain of salmonella, stemming from a recall late last month of Trader's Joe's peanut butter manufactured by Sunland Inc. No deaths have been linked to the recalled products. Sunland expanded its recall to 240 products -- some of which are also sold at supermarket chains Giant Food, Stop & Shop, Fresh & Easy and Sprouts, as well as gift-basket outlet Harry and David -- including specific cashew and almond butters and peanut-butter cookies. Specific items sold under the Archer Farms and Kirkland brands also have been recalled.

02:46PM

Libya's prime minister to step down
(
CLZ2
)
by Deborah Levine

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Libya's prime minister-elect Mustafa Abushagur is to stand down, likely leading to an election of a new leader by the General National Congress in a few weeks, the BBC reported Sunday. The GNC rejected Abushagur's proposed cabinet in a vote of no confidence, again leaving a leadership vacuum for the oil and gas exporter after the ouster of Col. Moammar Gadhafi last year. Abushagur was elected in September, following the elections of the national assembly in July - the country's first free elections in decades. Members of the congress and the public claimed Abushagur's appointees didn't represent the country's regions but were believed to include members of the Muslim Brotherhood, according to Reuters.

Intraday Data provided by SIX Financial Information and subject to terms of use.
Historical and current end-of-day data provided by SIX Financial Information.
All quotes are in local exchange time.
Real-time last sale data for U.S. stock quotes reflect trades reported through Nasdaq only.
Intraday data delayed at least 15 minutes or per exchange requirements.